Director of Operational Risk

About the role

The Director of Operational Risk will build and lead the operational risk function for a digital‑first financial services organisation in the UAE. Reporting to the Chief Risk Officer, the role will shape the risk framework, culture and AI‑enabled tooling from day one.

Key responsibilities

• Design and maintain the operational risk framework, taxonomy and policies across all business and support functions.
• Establish and run the risk and control self‑assessment (RCSA) process and manage the key risk indicator (KRI) set.
• Oversee operational risk event capture, root‑cause analysis and remediation tracking.
• Own business continuity and operational resilience, including scenario testing of critical services.
• Provide AI risk oversight, including human‑oversight taxonomy, bias testing, explainability and suspension protocols aligned with CBUAE regulations.
• Deliver operational risk reporting to the Risk Committee and Board Risk & Compliance Committee.

Required profile

• 12+ years of operational risk experience in banking, with senior leadership of a risk team.
• Proven track record building operational risk frameworks and resilience programmes in a regulated environment.
• Deep knowledge of CBUAE operational risk, business continuity expectations and AI regulatory guidance.
• Ability to think beyond traditional manual processes and drive AI‑enabled risk services.

Required skills

• Operational risk frameworks, RCSA, KRIs and operational resilience.
• Business continuity planning and scenario testing.
• AI risk oversight, bias testing and control monitoring.
• Advanced risk analytics and AI‑enabled control monitoring tools.